Still according to the forecasts presented by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the increase in wages and the lowering of interest rates can only solidify a slow but steady increase in consumption and a push towards investments after the stagnation experienced. During last years. If there is a country that has been able to rise several times from its ashes over its history, it is certainly Russia. Halfway between East and West, by nature and culture it is a nation devoted to patience, perseverance and sacrifice. Today, in a politically and economically undoubtedly tense climate, however, the Soviet privations and the nightmares and uncontrolled frenzies of the 90s, following the collapse of the USSR, seem very far away. The westernmost part of the immense Federation knows this well, that part of Russia nestled in the center of Europe: the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Overlooking the Baltic Sea, the Kaliningrad region covers 15 square kilometers and is home to nearly one million people. This Russian territory, geographically dissociated from the rest of the nation, is instead entirely surrounded by member countries of the European Union, to the east by Lithuania, to the west by Poland. Fascinating and troubled, the history of Kaliningrad dates back to the Second World War and the capture by the Red Army of the very rich Königsberg, capital, until 1945, of East Prussia. The Battle of Königsberg was one of the last on the Eastern Front and ended with the German surrender on 9 April 1945 after the city, trapped in a pocket, was gradually strangled by Soviet forces. Of fundamental strategic importance due to its position on the Baltic, connected by double thread to the corridor of Gdansk, East Prussia represented one of the last German strongholds to be conquered. After unspeakable violence perpetrated during the fall, Königsberg was completely Russified and renamed Kaliningrad, in honor of Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin, President of the Supreme Soviet Presidium from 1919 to 1946 and very close to Stalin. Already during the communist period the Russian region has always distinguished itself for its schizophrenic urban value, with, on the one hand, traces of palaces and churches destroyed by the war still clearly evident immediately after the fall of the Wall, on the other, the proliferation of socialist buildings and its almost and exclusively military value. Indeed, immediately after the war the Soviet authorities decided to move the naval power headquarters from Leningrad to Kaliningrad. At the collapse of the USSR, the Baltic fleet accounted for about a fifth of the entire Soviet fleet, while the double port of Kaliningrad and Baltiysk (the latter being the westernmost port city in the region located on the Vistula Peninsula) still remains better today. equipped with that of Odessa and Vladivostok. If the strategic-military dimension was of fundamental importance during the Cold War era, it is equally true that with the opening of Russia to the world after 1991, Kaliningrad presents a unique economic and tourist potential. During the late 90s its possibilities seemed only hinted at, while now, thanks to a new leadership at the head of the regional government, led by the youngest governor that Russia has ever had, the XNUMX-year-old Anton Alikhanov, initially directly appointed from the President, they become decidedly more concrete. Since 1996, Kaliningrad has the status of SEZ (Special Economic Zone) and enjoys tax and commercial benefits. Last December, Vladimir Putin signed a series of new amendments regarding the law that regulates the economic zone with the aim of not limiting the economy of Kaliningrad to the simple transshipment of goods, but to push it more towards production and export, above all thanks to foreign companies. Meanwhile, the attractiveness of the Russian Baltic region continues to grow, so much so that the exclave will host four matches in the next FIFA World Cup: a key territory for communication and collaboration with the countries of the European Union.
We talked about the future of the city and its territory with Alexander Schenderiuk - Gidkov, Deputy Governor of the region, who confirmed that the sanctions had less negative effects than expected and how important it was to translate them into opportunities for improvement. «Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia, like many developing countries, think of Turkey or Brazil, have suffered a certain recession in recent years. If one looks at the entire Russian economy, one cannot fail to observe some clear trends: import-oriented companies have had serious difficulties, while exporting ones, on the contrary, have achieved excellent earnings. All this cannot be related only and solely to the sanctions imposed by the European Union, although for economic but also historical reasons, the Kaliningrad region has always been devoted to the import of European raw materials and materials, their processing, their assembly and then the sale of finished products throughout Russia. At first the sanctioning effect worsened the economic conditions of our territory, but subsequently we were able to transform this difficult moment into a challenge to be won, developing other import models and making us more independent. If we can no longer get the meat from Poland, we will turn to other countries, like Brazil for example. As far as exports are concerned, however, we have been able to enhance our products, as in the case of companies producing fishing nets, and sell them at very competitive prices on various markets ».
Kaliningrad's geographical position and its proximity to several European Union countries make the region particularly interesting from both a political and an economic point of view. What hopes do you have in store for the immediate future?
«Kaliningrad wants to grow, it wants to develop more and to work abroad. Our aim is to make this dream come true. Although everything related to international relations in a political key is handled directly from Moscow, we still do our part to improve communication and business collaboration with our neighbors. Openness and listening to European countries are total. We are more than happy to welcome potential investors to the region, be they Russian or foreign. Among our main objectives is an all-out fight against corruption, in this way it is possible to guarantee a solid basis for developing any type of cooperation. At the same time, foreign investors can enjoy many privileges if they wish to establish businesses on our territory. In fact, in addition to the central location in the heart of Europe and the cost of labor, our incentives for energy, infrastructure and land (in many cases free of charge) are advantageous, not to mention the numerous and generous tax advantages " .
From the local press it is clear that many projects in the region are oriented towards tourism and the enhancement of the territory, is that so?
“Kaliningrad region is famous for its natural beauty. In the first place we cannot fail to mention the national park of the Curonian Spit (towards Lithuania), which is home to wild nature, the ideal habitat for many plants and animals. Despite being overlooked during the Soviet era, its uniqueness is visible at first glance. The government intends to preserve and enhance this magnificent area even more by preventing uncontrolled urbanization. On the second, the Vistula coastline (towards Poland), a luxuriant area that we also want to transform into a national park and, finally, the Russian part, on the border with Lithuania, of Lake Vistytis, naturally incomparable for animal species. and vegetation. These are breathtaking areas and landscapes - already known at the beginning of the 900th century for their kurhaus frequented by Thomas Mann and royalty from half of Europe - which blend well with the dunes, the white beaches and the clear water of the Baltic. In addition to an unrivaled nature, Kaliningrad also offers insights into history that are now unavailable. In fact, throughout the region there is an entire and complex system of forts, as well as numerous testimonies of the old and rich Königsberg. It is a unique historical heritage which however needs improvements and reconstruction. Our intention is to enhance it, as never before, by creating museum complexes, pedestrian areas and cycle paths, as well as listening to entrepreneurs interested in developing tourist-hotel businesses in the region. The approach that we favor is the direct meeting with the potential investor, personally showing land and structures and keeping an open and available mentality ».
Kaliningrad will host four World Cup matches this summer, how is the city preparing for this event?
«The World Cup is a unique opportunity to introduce ourselves. We have completed the construction of a stadium that can accommodate 45 spectators on a completely new part of the city that covers more than 000 hectares, not even built in German times. Our task is to prepare Kaliningrad in the best possible way to welcome the fans, not only through the architectural complex around the stadium, but with infrastructures and transport at the height of such an event, favoring only intelligent traffic, favoring an organization policy in harmony with the environment and renewal and expansion of pedestrian areas. Our hotels are also preparing to welcome tourists. Kaliningrad will be able to accommodate visitors in modern and luxurious hotels at prices around 30 euros per night. For those who still do not know Russia, the World Cup and the city of Kaliningrad could represent a first voyage of discovery that will certainly arouse the curiosity to learn more about our cultural, natural and tourist heritage ».
